compound sentence

American  

noun

1. a sentence containing two or more coordinate independent clauses, usually joined by one or more conjunctions, but no dependent clause, as The lightning flashed (independent clause) and (conjunction) the rain fell (independent clause).

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compound sentence British  

noun

1. a sentence containing at least two coordinate clauses

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compound sentence Cultural  

1. A sentence that contains at least two independent clauses, often joined by conjunctions: “Dr. Watson explained his theory, and Sherlock Holmes listened quietly.” (Compare complex sentence, compound-complex sentence, and simple sentence.)

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Etymology

Origin of compound sentence

First recorded in 1765–75

Compare meaning

How does compound-sentence compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• compound sentence vs. complex sentence
• simple sentence vs. compound sentence

Example Sentences

It is also used to give independence to the members of a compound sentence when not very complex.

From English: Composition and Literature by Webster, W. F. (William Franklin)

A compound sentence is one which contains two or more independent clauses.

From An English Grammar by Sewell, James Witt

When the members of a compound sentence themselves contain commas, they should be separated from one another by semicolons.

From Composition-Rhetoric by Brooks, Stratton D.

The selections given above illustrate the compound sentence.

From Business English A Practice Book by Buhlig, Rose

And and but rarely begin sentences; in nearly all cases it will be found that the sentences they purport to connect are but the independent clauses of one compound sentence.

From English: Composition and Literature by Webster, W. F. (William Franklin)